Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. Your chances of developing type 2 diabetes depend on a combination of risk factors such as your genes and lifestyle. Dr. Ayesha Jameel, endocrinologist at Bridgeport Endocrinology, is joining us tonight for a special insight into type 2 diabetes.
1). First, let’s talk about type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high levels of glucose (commonly called sugar) in the blood. To use glucose for energy, your body needs insulin. Over time, high blood sugar levels can lead to serious diabetes complications.
The most common form of diabetes (more than 90%) is type 2 diabetes. This is where your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it well – and your body’s cells aren’t able to use glucose for the energy it needs. If glucose stays in your blood it can cause serious problems.
2). Is Prediabetes a Stage of the Disease?
Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they usually have “prediabetes” – blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
Doctors sometimes refer to prediabetes as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG), depending on which test was used at the time it was detected. This condition puts you at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
If you have prediabetes, you should be checked for type 2 diabetes every one to two years.
Results that indicate prediabetes are:
An A1C of 5.7% -6.4%
· Fasting blood sugar of 100–125 mg / dl
A 2-hour OGTT blood sugar of 140 mg / dL – 199 mg / dL
3). What can you do to prevent type 2 diabetes?
You will not automatically develop type 2 diabetes if you have prediabetes. For some people with prediabetes, early treatment can actually bring blood sugar levels back to normal.
An equally important part of treating type 2 diabetes is developing a healthy diet. Research shows that you can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes by 58% by: · Losing 7% of your body weight (or 15 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds). Don’t worry if you can’t reach your ideal body weight. Losing even 10 to 15 pounds can make a world of difference.
Fitness is an integral part of Type 2 management. The good news is, all you have to do is move. You don’t have to be an ultra marathon runner. You can start slowly with a walk around the block or a simple bike ride. The key is to find activities that you love and do them as often as possible.
· Moderate exercise (such as brisk walking) 30 minutes a day, five days a week is a good choice.
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